F.A.Q.

TCM is a complete medical system that can be used alone or in conjunction with other medical systems. It has developed out of a long well documented history, over 2,500 years and is continuously evolving through research and modern clinical experience. TCM uses five main modalities including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese medical massage known as ‘tui na’, eastern dietary therapy, and moxibostion. By integrating these five therapeutic modalities, you will receive a specific treatment catered to your individual needs. A treatment strategy will be created for you based on condition, chronicity and constitution. TCM theory is based on the premise that imbalances and blockages in the body are a contributing factor to disease. Treatments will focus on balancing the body’s energy, or Qi, to promote health and wellness.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body. These points are believed to correspond to specific channels of energy in the body, and the stimulation of these points is thought to promote the free flow of Qi and blood, which can help to restore balance and improve overall health.

Acupuncture is generally a painless experience. Patients may feel a slight prick or tingling sensation as the needle is inserted, but most people find the treatment to be quite relaxing.

Acupuncture needles are as thin as a human hair, they are solid with a rounded tip, rather than hallow with a cutting edge as are hypodermic needles. While acupuncture is not sensation-less, painful is not the most accurate word to describe it. The desirable sensation of an acupuncture needle is not sharp or stabbing. Oftentimes, many people will feel a variety of sensations including a heavy, dull, achey or warm sensation. In addition some may feel “traveling sensations” such as movement in other parts of the body, possibly even in locations where there are no needles inserted.
Most people find acupuncture very relaxing; in fact many people easily doze off for a nap while the needles are still inserted.

Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a licensed and trained practitioner. At our clinic, we use sterile, disposable needles to prevent infection and follow strict safety protocols to ensure the safety of our patients.

It is important to tell your acupuncturist if you suspect you’re pregnant because this will change which points are selected for your acupuncture treatments.

While rare, there is a small risk of side effects associated with acupuncture, such as bruising, bleeding, or infection at the site of needle insertion. However, these risks can be minimized by seeking treatment from a licensed and experienced acupuncturist.
No, you do not need a referral from a doctor to receive acupuncture at our clinic. However, we always recommend that our patients maintain regular communication with their medical doctors and seek medical attention when necessary.
An initial treatment is about 90 minutes. This visit includes a detail intake, treatment planning and full acupuncture treatment. A return visit takes 60 minutes, this includes a brief intake and an acupuncture treatment which may or may not include other modalities of TCM such as cupping, gua sha or tui na.
The number of treatments is dictated based on the condition and constitution. Typically, one full course of treatment is ten treatments- however, this may not be enough for chronic conditions. Following diet and lifestyle changes will facilitate changes more rapidly.

If a substantial number of people are exposed to the same common cold pathogen, why do only some of them get sick and why does the cold manifest differently for each person? What dictates the slight variations in the cold? From a Chinese Medicine perspective, each patient is treated as an individual because it is thought that each patient has a tendency to different variations of disease. These variations are thought to be predetermined and also influenced by the way we treat our bodies daily.

Given the patient’s constitution, disease can be predicted or prevented. This is partially the reason why you don’t have to be sick to receive acupuncture and is especially true during season changes, when the body is most susceptible to disease.